Questions asked over why an email containing the names of senior military
personnel based in London embassies was sent to leading members of Hizb
ut-Tahrir by an NHS psychiatrist

An NHS psychiatrist compiled a list of military attachés working in the embassies of Arab countries in London and distributed it to fellow members of an extremist Islamist organisation, The Telegraph can disclose.

There is no note with his email explaining why he gathered the names. But a source familiar with HT said: “There were a number of meetings where these names were discussed. These were people Hizb ut-Tahrir wanted to target and recruit.”

A book published by HT in Britain describes the importance of “seeking the support from those capable of removing the present authorities” in Islamic countries to establish and secure Islamic rule.

In the book, entitled The Method to Re-establish the Khilafah and Resume the Islamic Way of Life, the authors state: “The military would be capable of establishing the authority of Islam. Hence a coup d’etat would be the manifestation of the political change that the Islamic political party had inspired in the people.”

In the email, sent in 2006, Dr Waheed wrote in the message box that he had gathered the information using a website that allows access to old internet sites.

The email contains the names of 21 senior military figures from Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, as well as Turkey. The list includes some telephone numbers and email addresses.

Dr Waheed, a consultant psychiatrist at Birmingham and Solihull Mental Health NHS Trust, was HT’s chief media adviser and one of its leading figures at the time.

Khalid Mahmood, a Labour MP who has campaigned against HT, said: “Why is a senior NHS doctor sending names in an email, other than to target them?”

It is understood one of the email recipients was Dr Abdul Wahid, who is believed to operate in the South East as a GP. He is thought to be chairman of HT’s executive committee in the UK.

HT is banned in several countries including Germany. In their last manifesto, the Tories called for it to be banned.

Lawyers for Dr Waheed, 36, said: “Our client has received no patient complaints at all in relation to his care, he has received two NHS clinical excellence awards in the last two successive years for his achievements in developing and delivering high-quality patient care and his commitment to the continuous improvement of the NHS.

“He does not hold extremist views, as you suggest, but holds the views that any practising Muslim would hold.”

Taji Mustafa, a spokesman for Hizb ut-Tahrir Britain, said: “Hizb ut-Tahrir is widely known to routinely contact and account members of staff of Muslim embassies around the world regarding their statements and actions. It is also well known that we widely circulate our publications to members of such embassies.”